ATHENS, Ga. — The LSU volleyball team closed out a four-match road trip with a three-game loss to Georgia, 30-27, 30-22, 30-19, on Sunday afternoon at the Ramsey Center.
With the loss, the Tigers fell to 10-8 overall and 2-6 in Southeastern Conference action. The Bulldogs improved to 12-5 overall and 5-3 in league play.
“We had several people with solid performances today,” said LSU head coach Fran Flory. “Unfortunately we could not maintain those performances over a long period of time. We fought hard throughout the match, but we did not take advantage of our opportunities. It was a lost opportunity kind of match.”
Jelena Mijatovic led the Tigers with 13 kills, while Ivana Kuzmic and Regan Hood each recorded nine. Daniela Romero posted a double-double with 31 assists and 12 digs. Rachel Pittman also had 12 digs for LSU, while Kuzmic led the team with three blocks.
“I thought Dee (Romero) played well and created some good opportunities, but our offense just let us down,” said Flory.
Georgia was led by Julia Petruschke with 15 kills and Alexandra Oquendo with 11 kills and nine blocks. Brooke Burlingame led the Bulldogs with 11 digs.
While the Tigers out killed Georgia, 45-42, and out dug the Bulldogs, 51-46, the difference in the game was the blocking and hitting percentages. While LSU blocked back five as a team, Georgia recorded 13 blocks, including six in the final game. The Bulldogs also posted a .239 hitting percentage, compared to a .066 mark by the Tigers.
In the first game, Georgia took a three-point lead on two occasions before LSU came back to tie it at 16 all. The Bulldogs retook the lead and stretched out an eight-point margin, 28-20, but the Tigers would not surrender the game. With Georgia at game point, 39-24, LSU scored four straight on three kills and a block by Mijatovic to get within two, 29-27, but a kill by the Bulldogs closed out the game, 30-27, in favor of Georgia.
The Bulldogs jumped out to the lead in game two and never relinquished it. With the Tigers trailing 20-14, LSU went on a 5-0 run to get within one. With Georgia leading 22-21, the Bulldogs scored seven straight to get the match to game point. The Tigers fought of the first game point, but a kill by Georgia gave the Bulldogs the two-game lead, 30-22.
In the third game with the score tied at 11 all, Georgia went on a 3-0 run to take the lead, 14-11. The Bulldogs extended the lead to six, 20-14, before the Tigers fought back to within two, 20-18, on a 4-0 run. Georgia closed out the match with a 10-1 run that gave the Bulldogs the victory.
LSU returns to action next weekend at home against Kentucky. The Tigers will battle the Wildcats on Sunday at 1:30 p.m. LSU will then host Arkansas, Auburn and Alabama the following week.
Georgia def. LSU 30-27, 30-22, 30-19
LSU (10-8, 2-6) (Kills-aces-blocks) – Jelena Mijatovic 13-1-2; Ivana Kuzmic 9-0-3; Regan Hood 9-0-2; Melody Clark 6-0-2; Kassi Mikulik 4-0-1; Daniela Romero 4-0-0; Michelle Hensgens 0-1-0; Totals 45-2-5.0. (Assists) – Daniela Romero 31. (Dig leaders) – Rachel Pittman 12; Daniela Romero 12
Georgia (12-5, 5-3) (Kills-aces-blocks) – Julia Petruschke 15-1-2; Alexandra Oquendo 11-0-9; Amy Krahn 5-0-2; Simona Speed 5-0-1; Meagan Welch 5-0-6; Margot Wallace 1-1-1; Liz Pace 0-1-0; Brooke Burlingame 0-1-0; Totals 42-4-13.0. (Assists) – Margot Wallace 34. (Dig leaders) – Brooke Burlingame 11; Meagan Welch 9; Liz Pace 8